Module No. 2Lesson No. 6

6. BUDDHIST ATTITUDE TOWARDS WATER MANAGEMENTThe aim of this lesson:Introduce as to what is meant by water management and how it is necessary and important for all of us to understand the value of water. So that students will be able to understand Buddhist attitude towards water management according to early Buddhist literature and useful techniques of water management can be found in the Vinayapitaka.Objectives At the end of the lesson students will be able to 1. enhance the knowledge on water management 2. Help saving and protecting the water3. Improve knowledge on useful ways of using water4. Convey the knowledge of using water wisely to others so that they will be able to use it properly.

Introduction:Environmental degradation in modern society is highly increased due to the lack of understanding of acting accordance with the Dhamma. One of the most environmental pollutions facing mankind generation to generation is water pollution. Water pollution is the contamination of water bodies like oceans, rivers, lakes, ponds, cannels were caused by activities of mankind. These activities are harmful to mankind, animals and nature. Domestic households mostly cause water pollution through releasing urine, stool, wastewater, food and laundry wastes into the water sources. Not only for all mankind but for other living creatures and vegetation as well the pure drinking water doubtless is indispensable, for clean water is necessary to be drunk for one who wants to live in a healthy life. About 6000 children die daily due to the diseases occurred by unclean water.According to the geologists two-third (2/3) of this planet is covered with water. 97% of it is oceanic that is salt water. Only 3% out of this is pure water. That is fresh water. Of this too, 2% goes for underground water, water vapor and ice and snow. It is only 1% that is found in rivers ponds etc.[footnoteRef:1] [1: Iieperuma. O.A. Environmental Pollution and the Future of Mankind. SEU. Faculty of Science. University of Peradeniya, 2003.p.32]

Buddhist views of proper ways of using water:The Buddha who was a greatest ecologist in the world who much cared of protecting environment and very often guided His disciples not to pollute the environment through wasting the water carelessly and heedlessly. In ancient India, during the life time of the Buddha, some monks were careless in habits of abusing water. The Buddha prohibited discharge of wasting and polluting water because it is of harmful to individuals health as well as the health of others. It is very necessary to understand that pure water is essential for mankind and better not to pollute water for no reason. For this, the Buddha recommends ways of using water wisely and mindfully. In the Cllavaggapi, the Buddha advised His disciples the better ways of using water through promulgating the Vinaya rules. It is said that: O Monks, the Bhikkhu should not travel without a strainer. If a Bhikkhu going without strainer, he will commit an ecclesiastical offence. If there is neither a strainer nor a regulation water pot, then a corner of the outer robe should be determined upon with the reflection: I will drink water having strained it with this.[footnoteRef:2] This shows as to how the Buddha was very much concerned for the well-health of His disciples. Monks were advised to drink pure water using a strainer for maintaining the good health. Besides, the Buddha had promulgated this disciplinary rule of using a strainer for the sake of living creatures living in water. [2: Naca bhikkhave aparissavanakeva addhna magge paipajjitabbo yo paipajjeyya patti dukkaassa sace na hoti parissava v dammakarako v saghi kannopi adhihtabbo imminparissvehev pivissmti Ibid. p.38]

The disciples were expected not to throw the dirty left water on the ground carelessly, for it will be the proximate cause of pollute the surrounding, or environment and the harmful to small living creatures as well. If they deliberately or intentionally fail to abide by the golden rule, there is an offence for that act. Therefore, in the Ptimokkhapli of Vinayapitaka, it is said that: If any Bhikkhu should knowingly or deliberately pour water containing living things on to grass or earth or have it poured, there is an offence entailing expiation.[footnoteRef:3] The same rules has been promulgated for Bhikkhun-s which can be traced in Suddhapcittiya of bhikkhunptimokkha.[footnoteRef:4] [3: Yo pana bhikkhu jna sappnaka udaka tia v mattika v siceyya v sicpeyya v pcittiya Vin. IV.126,] [4: Y pana bhikkhu jna sappnaka udaka tia v mattika v siceyya v sicpeyya v pcittiya Vin IV:49]

It would be of great benefits and happiness of individual and others if one has the knowledge of proper way of drinking water. To maintain a healthy life, the pure water is needed and should be drunk. That is why, the Buddha advised disciples not to drink water containing tiny living creatures. In the Bhikkhuptimokkhapi, it is said that if any Bhikkhu drinks or uses water containing living things, there is an offence entailing expiation.[footnoteRef:5] As mentioned earlier, for the water management, the monks and nuns were allowed to keep and use a water strainer to strain the drinking water.[footnoteRef:6] A water strainer is one of the eight requisites[footnoteRef:7] of the Bhikkh-s, too. [5: Yo pana bhikkhu jna sappnaka udaka paribhujeyya pcittiya Vin. IV. 126,] [6: Tena kho pana samayena antar magge udaka akappiya hoti. Parissvana na hoti bhagavato etamttha arocesu. Anujnmi bhikkhave parissvana Ibid. p.51,] [7: . Atthaparikkhra: three robes, bowl, razor, needle, strainer, zone. ]

Among the seventy rules of training, the rule no: 75 was also laid down by the Buddha who paid special attention to use water in proper way, on ecological and environmental precaution for monks and nuns to avoid polluting water. According to the Buddha, urine, stool or spit can pollute the natural environment. This is why, He banned the monks from urinating, stool or spitting saliva into the river and canal or stream. The disciples are advised to train themselves not to pollute the water by defecating, urinating, or spitting in water if he is not sick and ill.[footnoteRef:8] [8: Na udake agilno uccra v passva v vighsa v khela v karissmti sikkhkaray Vin. IV. 206,]

To get pure water that helps to maintain healthy life, the water should not be polluted but it needed to be cleaned up regularly, properly. The Buddha very often advised the monks and nuns to clean the water up from time to time. With regard to this, in the Vattakkhandhaka of Vinayapiaka, it explains as to how to receive and use it in a proper way. It is said that: When water is being out, having grasped the bowl with both hands, the water should be received: having put it down carefully the bowl should be washed without rubbing it. If there is a receiver of water, having put the bowl down, the water should be sprinkled into waste-tub thinking. Be careful not to splash the receiver of water with the water. Not to splash the neighboring monks with the water not to splash the outer cloak with pure water. If there is no receiver of water having put down the bowl, the water should be sprinkled on to the ground thinking: be careful not to splash the neighboring monks with water not to splash the outer cloak with water.[footnoteRef:9] [9: Udake dyamne ubhohi hatthehi patta paiggahetv udaka paiggahetabba. nicca katv sdhuka aparisansattena patto dhovitabbo sace udakapaigghako hoti. nicca katv udaka paiggahe udaka asicitabba m udakapaigghako udakena osici m smant bhikkhu udakena osicisu. M saghi udakena osiciti Ibid. p.350,]

Moreover, the similar advice on cleaning water is also found in Clavaggapi of Vinayapitaka. The Buddha exhorted disciples to pay special attention to clean water up. Regarding this, the Buddha said: The water in a pond without rinsing or changing it could be spoiled or damped. So to renew the flowing water it needs to be pipe out and to bring water to the pool drain out spoiled water.[footnoteRef:10] [10: Pokkharay udaka puna hoti. Anujnmi bhikkhave udakamatika udakaniddhamananti Cv. Khuddaka vatthu, khanakavagga,]

The disciples are indeed not allowed to create both water pollution and environmental pollution for no reasons. The Buddha, in the training rules of monks and nuns, encouraged disciples not to pollute the environment throwing washing water containing rice grains among the houses or villages. The disciples are expected to train thus: I shall not among the houses throw away bowl-washing water with rice grains in it. This is a training to be done.[footnoteRef:11] [11: Na sasitthaka pattadhovana antaraghare chaessmti sikkhkaray Vin.IV. p.199,]

There is a better example to show as to how the Buddhas disciples also pay attention not to pollute and abuse water as well as not to destroy greenery and tiny creatures. With regard to this, it is mentioned in the Cagosigasutta of Majjhimanikya. The Buddhas disciples, Venerable Anuruddha, Venerable Kimbila and Venerable Nandiya who meditated in the Gosiga forest practice in this ways: whichever of us returns last eats any food left over, if he wishes, otherwise he throws it away where there is no greenery or drops it into water where there is no life.[footnoteRef:12] [12: Yo pacc gmato pidya paikkamti sace hoti bhuttvaseso sace kakhati bhujati noce kakhati appaharite v chaeti, appke v udake opilpeti. M.i.207,]

Again in the training rules of mendicants, the disciples are advised not to accept water vessel along with the hand soiled by food. To prevent unclean habits of using water and to pay attention to use water in a proper way, the Buddha advised disciples to discipline thus: I will not take or accept a water vessel with a hand soiled by food: This is a training to be observed.[footnoteRef:13]On this regard, the Vibhaga explains more that if ones hand is soiled, he may take the water vessel with the thought; I will wash it or get it washed. [13: na smikena hatthene pnyathlaaka paiggahessmi ti sikkh karay, Vin. IV, Bhikkuptimokkha, Sekhiya, no. 55, (Vin, IV 198,34f)]

Conclusion:It has been discussed as to what the Buddhist attitude towards water management is and how it is important to understand the value of pure water. Since the pure water is very essential need for all living beings, for human beings, it is the responsibility to preserve pure water not polluting and abusing the water. Without pure water, human being cannot live in a healthy and happy life. For this reasonable fact the water should be preserved and used well because it is conducive not only a healthy and happy life but also for the objective of meditation as well. The Buddha said: Suppose there is a pool of water, turbid, stirred up and muddied, just so a turbid mind. Suppose there is a pool of water, pure, tranquil and unstirred, where a man can see oysters and sheel, pebbles and gravel, and schools of fish, just so an untroubled mind.[footnoteRef:14] By using water well and wisely, not only a healthy and happy life can be experienced but also spiritual attainment can be achieved through contemplating the water as an object of meditation. [14: Jeff Waistell & Martin Haigh, Engagement with Environment Action: Comparing Buddhist and Vaishnava Perspectives in Buddhist Approach to Environmental Crisis, UNDV Conference Volume, 2009, Thailand. P.91]

The lists of references:1. William Pruitt, Edi, K.R.Norman, Trasn, (2008), The Ptimokkha, PTS, Oxford.2. Ven.Pallegama Ratanasara, (2000), The Buddhist Concept of the Environment and Individual, Buddhist Mahavihara, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.3. Jotiya Dhirasekera, (2007), Buddhist Monastic Discipline, Buddhist Cultural Centre, Colombo, Sri Lanka4. Prof. P.D. Premasiri, The Ecological Teachings in Early Buddhism on Seminar on Buddhism and Ecology, University of Peradeniya, (2004)5. Ven. Dr. Makadawara Ananda, The Buddhist Eco-Ethics and Vinaya Pitakaon Seminar on Buddhism and Ecology, University of Peradeniya, (2004)6. Environmental Pollution and the Future of Mankind. SEU. Faculty of Science. University of Peradeniya, (2003)

Assignments 1. Examine the Buddhist admonishes on water management and its utility for the prevention of water pollution in current world.